Snack: Maple-Pumpkin Pie Bars

These bars are packed with some of the best flavors around. Everyone will go crazy for these little fall-inspired squares.

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Cinnamon

Health benefits of Maple-Pumpkin Pie Bars

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060).

Ingredients

1 package yellow cake mix
1/2 c. butter or margarine
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 package Philadelphia Cream Cheese
1 can pumpkin
1 package JELL-O Pumpkin Spice Flavor Instant Pudding
1 envelope DREAM WHIP Whipped Topping Mix
1/3 c. milk
3 tbsp. maple syrup
.13 tsp. ground cinnamon

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Line 13- by 9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides; spray with cooking spray. Mix cake mix, 1 egg, and butter until blended; press onto bottom of prepared pan.
Beat cream cheese, brown sugar, remaining eggs, pumpkin, and dry pudding mix with mixer until blended; pour over crust.
Meanwhile, mix whipped topping mix, milk, and syrup in large bowl with mixer on low speed until blended. Beat on high speed 4 minutes or until mixture forms stiff peaks. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Spread whipped topping mixture onto dessert and sprinkle with cinnamon before cutting into bars to serve.